COUNCILLORS have been chewing over a call to make Southport the first gum-free resort in Britain.

A local ban on selling chewing gum was touted by Cllr Tom Glover last Wednesday’s meeting of Southport Area Committee, after hearing how a solution to it littering the streets has so far eluded officers.

Cllr Glover told the Visiter he was “just testing public opinion” on the proposal but had already received positive feedback from residents.

“The majority I’ve spoken to are in favour of banning it,” he said.

The long-serving Cambridge ward councillor accepted it would be impossible to stop people entering Southport with gum bought elsewhere.

He also said consultation would have to take place with retailers on limiting sales of the product.

Town centre (Dukes ward) councillor Les Byrom expressed cautious support for his colleague’s idea. He said: “A ban or voluntary arrangement with the traders in Southport might just take off.”

But Cllr Byrom said there are “freedom and liberty issues” surrounding any proposed ban and his favoured solution is for central government to step in with legislation. I think there should be a specific tax on chewing gum, such as 10 pence on a pack, and that money would be distributed to councils around the country to clean up the mess,” he said.

A chewing gum tax also has the backing of Fred Weavers, Liberal Democrat councillor for Kew ward.

He said he favours more liberal policies over a ban but also that there should be tougher enforcement of existing anti-litter laws.

The Kew ward councillor said: “I don’t want to start punishing businesses in Southport. People should put discarded gum in the litter bin or get fined. If shops want a voluntary ban on chewing gum then we shouldn’t write it off.”

Of the options already considered by officers, Cllr Weavers said he thought a marketing and education campaign against the scourge of gum-dropping should be prioritised.

Cllr Weavers said targeted gum boards, where people are encouraged to stick their gum, and wrap-its, which are small packscontaining paper for gum to be put into, should be considered for pilot schemes in the town. But the idea doesn’t stick with Cllr Glover, who dismissed them as “rather unhygienic”.